Rider Student Top Chef: Goes Viral Rules!

Entry Period Begins: Tuesday, October 27, 2026 at 12:01 a.m.

Entry Period Ends: Monday, November 23, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.

Finale: Tuesday, December 8, 2026 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Contest

Submit a sweet or savory viral recipe via the Rider Student Top Chef: Goes Viral contest page at www.1077thebronc.com/GoesViral from Tuesday, October 27 to Monday, November 23, 2026.

Contest is open to full or part-time undergraduate and graduate students enrolled during the 2026 Fall semester at Rider University.

Savory submissions can be an appetizer, breakfast, lunch or dinner entrée or any side dish. All sweet entries can be a cake, cupcake or cheesecake, cookie, pie, cobbler or tart, donut, pudding, ice cream, etc. All student recipes submitted must be a viral recipe, with more than 10,000 views, you discovered on social media: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, etc. Viral recipes will be judged on originality, creativity, taste, visual and crowd appeal; and if the recipe reflects the theme of this year’s contest successfully. Please note: Daly’s is a nut-free dining facility. Recipes may not include the following: peanuts and tree nuts.

Student recipes/entries must be received by Monday, November 23 at 11:59 p.m. Recipes must be submitted in written form with all ingredients, measurements and instructions along with a link to the viral recipe you are submitting. Recipes may be modified to accommodate cooking for a large crowd. Contestants whose recipes are being considered as finalists for The Rider Student Top Chef: Goes Viral Finale may be interviewed by the culinary team at Rider Dining Services prior to the finalist announcement on Tuesday, December 1. Judges will select three qualifying, plus two alternate recipes from all student submissions compiled during the entry period listed above.

Qualifying students will have the opportunity to compete individually or team up with up to two members of their family, on-campus or off-campus friends at the Rider Student Top Chef: Goes Viral Finale on Tuesday, December 8, 2026 from 5 to 7 p.m. at one of three culinary stations at Daly Dining Hall.

Entrants must be present and be able to prepare, cook and serve their recipe for the entire event, beginning at Noon on the day of the finale, and ending at approximately 7:15 p.m., to be eligible for the contest and all prizes. Each contestant will receive a minimum of four hours prep time. No contestant substitutions will be permitted.

In the event a qualifying student chef can’t compete in the Rider Student Top Chef: Goes Viral Finale an alternate student chef will be chosen from the list of alternates. Gourmet Dining, LLC will be on hand to provide basic assistance to each student chef in the preparation of their qualifying recipe and to ensure both the student and the university are compliant with all Lawrence Township Board of Health codes.

During the performance cooking competition Rider students will have the opportunity to sample and vote for each of the three qualifying recipes. Voting will take place via 107.7 The Bronc’s website at www.1077thebronc.com/ViralVotes from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, December 8, 2026.

The student/recipe with the most votes at the end of the competition will be deemed winner of Rider Student Top Chef: Goes Viral and will also be announced live at Daly Dining Hall and live on 107.7 The Bronc.

Prizes

Entries: Every Rider student who enters will receive two tickets to Catch A Rising Star in Princeton ($80) and a pair of 90-minute jump passes ($70) to Sky Zone Trampoline Park in Hamilton, plus a $100 sponsor gift card pack featuring: $20 to B2 Bistro Bar + Grill, $30 to Gretalia Hospitality Group and $20 to Lawrenceville Sandwich Company, $10 each to The Dog Spot, Caesar’s Bagels and Deli, the Tanning Zone and Broadway Chicken. Total Prize value: $257.00

First Place:  (1) $200 Visa gift card courtesy of 107.7 The Bronc; (1) $500 catering certificate to Gretalia Hospitality Group, including PJ’s Pancake House, Osteria Procaccini, More Than Q, Mi Espana and Falco; (1) Vitamanwater branded 54-quart cooler ($450 value); (1) 10-Person Group Jump with pizza and drinks (90 Mins of Jump + 1 HR in Chill Zone) at Sky Zone in Hamilton ($430 value); (1) All-Access Salon Week package, plus Cocoon Wellness Pod and Red Light Therapy and UV and Sunless Tanning courtesy of The Tanning Zone ($140 value); (2) Tickets to A Christmas Carol at McCarter Theatre Center ($190 value); (2) Tickets to A Christmas Story: The Play at Bristol Riverside Theatre ($138 value); and (1) Embroidered chef’s coat ($100 value) and an at-home cooking kit ($100 value) from Rider Dining Services, 107.7 The Bronc T-shirt, lanyard and bag ($50). Total Prize value: $2,198.00

Second Place: (1) $150 Visa gift card courtesy of 107.7 The Bronc; (1) $250 catering certificate to Gretalia Hospitality Group, including PJ’s Pancake House, Osteria Procaccini, More Than Q, Mi Espana and Falco; (1) Smartwater branded Yeti Tote Bag ($160 value); (1) 5-Person, two-hour Group Jump at Sky Zone in Hamilton ($210 value); (2) Tickets to A Christmas Carol at McCarter Theatre Center ($190 value); (2) Tickets to A Christmas Story: The Play at Bristol Riverside Theatre ($138 value); (1) All-Access Level One Tanning week, plus (1) bottle of indoor tanning lotion courtesy of the Tanning Zone in Hamilton and Bordentown ($70 value); and (1) Embroidered chef’s coat ($100 value) and an at-home cooking kit ($100 value) from Rider Dining Services, 107.7 The Bronc T-shirt, lanyard and bag ($50). Total Prize value: $1418.00

Third Place: (1) $100 Visa gift card courtesy of 107.7 The Bronc; (2) Tickets to A Christmas Carol at McCarter Theatre Center ($190 value); (2) Tickets to A Christmas Story: The Play at Bristol Riverside Theatre ($138 value); (1) $50 gift card to Sky Zone Trampoline Park in Hamilton; (1) All-Access Level One Tanning week, plus (1) bottle of indoor tanning lotion courtesy of the Tanning Zone in Hamilton and Bordentown ($70 value); and (1) Embroidered chef’s coat ($100 value) and an at-home cooking kit ($100 value) from Rider Dining Services, 107.7 The Bronc T-shirt, lanyard and bag ($50). Total Prize Value: $798

Disclaimer

No purchase necessary to enter. One entry per student. Students must be currently enrolled and attending classes during the Fall 2026 semester as either a part-time or full-time student at Rider University. Rider employees currently attending classes at Rider University are eligible to enter. Judges’ decisions are final. Employees of individual prize sponsors, the 107.7 The Bronc student executive staff, affiliate companies, advertising agencies, other radio stations and their immediate families are not eligible to enter or win. Winner is solely responsible for all applicable taxes. Prize sponsors are entirely responsible for the prizes, including their quality, service, and valid dates for redemption. 107.7 The Bronc is not responsible for cancelled events. 107.7 The Bronc is not responsible for lost, late, or misdirected entries. Substitution of prizes is not permitted. Odds of winning depend on the total number of participants. Station reserves the right to broadcast or otherwise publish the names and likeness of all Rider Student Top Chef contestants. Judging shall be the responsibility of Rider University Dining Services and 107.7 The Bronc WRRC-FM. Station reserves the right to alter contest rules including, but not limited to, the dates of the contest. Complete rules are available for inspection during regular business hours at the offices of 107.7 The Bronc, care of Rider University, Fine Arts Room 207, 2083 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648. PRIZES CANNOT BE REFUNDED, RETURNED OR EXCHANGED!